Technical Lead - Data & AI

The Technical Lead is a central, deeply hands-on role at vector8. You will write code, build solutions, and directly drive the delivery of enterprise-grade data and AI systems — while providing the technical direction and mentorship that helps the team around you excel.

This is not a primarily hands off, high level management position: you are expected to be in the codebase every day, solving hard problems, unblocking teammates, and setting the bar for engineering quality. You bring strong hands-on engineering skills across data and AI, combined with the breadth to make sound technical decisions, navigate complex system landscapes, and ensure everything delivered is secure, performant, and compliant.

Responsibilities

Hands-on Contributor 

• Contribute directly to solution development validating technical approaches when needed.
• Support teams during complex engineering tasks, unblock challenges, and ensure the final solution aligns with the architecture.
• Hands-on delivery is the primary mode — you lead from the front, writing code and solving problems directly alongside the team.

Drive Technical Delivery & Team Leadership 

• Lead cross-functional delivery teams of data engineers, ML engineers, MLOps specialists, and software developers.
• Define technical workstreams, review code and designs, and ensure architectural coherence throughout the implementation.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and thought leadership to elevate engineering quality and delivery excellence.

Data & AI Solutions Navigate Complex Systems & Regulated Environments  

• Work across intricate enterprise ecosystems with heterogeneous applications, distributed data sources, and legacy components.
• Identify modernization paths and integration patterns that respect operational realities and long-standing constraints.
• Embed data protection, cybersecurity controls, governance, and compliance in solution design.

Enable AI at Scale 

• Design architectures that support AI development, deployment, monitoring, governance, and lifecycle management.
• Build reusable architectural patterns and components that accelerate scaling AI beyond single use cases.

Shape Client Relationships & Growth 

• Build trusted relationships with CDOs, CIOs, Chief Architects, engineering leads, and business stakeholders.
• Contribute technical expertise to proposals and RfPs.
• Identify opportunities to expand AI and data platform capabilities across the organization.

Requirements

• Extensive and demonstrable experience in ML & data engineering & AI solution architectures.
• Deep expertise in designing and building complex AI solutions (MLOps, streaming, APIs, orchestration).
• Strong hands-on engineering skills - comfortable coding in Python, SQL, or similar languages and working with modern data/AI toolchains.
• Experience with AWS, Azure, or GCP data/AI services; multi-cloud familiarity is a strong plus.
• Knowledge of data governance, responsible AI, security frameworks, and operational controls, ideally coupled with experience in highly regulated industries with strict requirements for security, privacy, compliance, and data governance.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, able to influence both executives and engineering teams.
• Ability to convert complex challenges into clear architectural decisions and actionable delivery plans.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics or a related field.

Benefits

• A role at the forefront of AI transformation for leading Swiss enterprises in financial services, insurance, and beyond
• Work with cutting-edge AI technologies and innovative solutions that create real, measurable business value
• A dynamic, entrepreneurial work environment where your contributions directly drive company growth
• Supportive team culture that prioritises continuous learning, professional development, and personal growth
• A leadership ethos focused on empowering people, fostering collaboration, excellence, authenticity, and diversity
• Competitive salary package, 25 days of vacation, development budget, and a flat hierarchy